Ka-Ching! 50 Cent Tops Source Awards

50 Cent cashed in at Monday night's Source Hip-Hop Music Awards, walking away with a leading three trophies.

Fiddy won Best Single (Male Artist) for "In Da Club", Best Album for his mega-selling debut, Get Rich or Die Tryin', and Breakthrough Artist of the Year.

But the rap superstar didn't bother to turn up to accept the hardware--most likely because he's still smarting from an exposé Source published in its October issue which painted an unsavory portrait of him. (Source's co-owner Raymond "Benzino" Scott has been engaged in a long feud with Fiddy mentor Eminem, so the magazine might have something of an axe to grind.)

Instead, 50 Cent's longtime rival Ja Rule ended up accepting the Best Single prize on Fiddy's behalf.

Not all the big winners were no-shows, though. St. Louis's favorite son Nelly and diminutive diva Lil' Kim scored the trophies for Best Male and Female Solo Artists.

The Atlanta-based trio Lil Jon and the East Side Boyz, otherwise known as the "Crunk Boys of the South" (for the dirty hip-hop sound they helped to develop), took home Best Group and Video of the Year for "I Don't Give a #%!" which features Mystikal and Krayzie Bone of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.

Group Single went to Clipse for "Grindin'," while Bone Crusher won Best Single, Collaboration, for "Neva Scared," with T.I. and Killer Mike.

The Source Image award was given to Nelly, LL Cool J, dancer Crazy Legs and Afeni Shakur, Tupac's mother.

Among the performers taking to the mic at the Miami Arena were Nelly accompanied by P. Diddy and Trina; a raunchy medley of crunk from Lil' Jon and the East Side Boyz and Ying Yang Twins (with an assist by shirtless pot-bellied men, scantily clad female dancers and men decked out in their best pimp daddy outfits); and Wyclef Jean, the only artist to forego backing tracks and actually play a real musical instrument. The ex-Fugee called for peace and reconciliation within the hip-hop generation ("black on black crime needs to stop," he said) and then performed a new tune from his forthcoming album.

As befitting the Source Awards's informal ceremonies of years past, nominees showed up with their respective entourages, who weren't exactly civil to one another--there was immediate feuding over seats, creating tension on the floor from the get-go.

Tempers were kept in check by the Fruit of Islam, the Nation of Islam's security wing, which was on hand to prevent the type of melee that marred the Source show three years ago. Officials from Miami Fire and Rescue Department also helped keep the aisles clear.

Nevertheless, producers had a tough time keeping the kudocast on schedule--it ran into the wee hours of Tuesday morning.

Now in its fifth year, the Source Awards are decided by the magazine's editorial staff; not all of which were given out at last night's event. BET is scheduled to broadcast the show on November 11.

Here's a list of last night's winners: Album of the Year: Get Rich or Die Tryin', 50 Cent Artist of the Year, Male: Nelly Artist of the Year, Female: Lil' Kim Artist of the Year, Group: Lil Jon and the East Side Boyz Single of the Year, Male: "In Da Club," 50 Cent Single of the Year, Female: "The Jump Off," Lil' Kim Single of the Year, Group: Clipse, "Grindin" Single of the Year, Collaboration: "Neva Scared," Bone Crusher featuring T.I. and Killer Mike. R&B/Rap Collaboration of the Year: "Thug Lovin," Ja Rule featuring Bobby Brown Breakthrough Artist of the Year: 50 Cent Video of the Year: "I Don't Give a #%!" Lil Jon and the East Side Boyz featuring Mystikal and Krayzie Bone Producer of the Year: The Neptunes Dancehall Reggae Album of the Year: "Dutty Rock," Sean Paul International Album of the Year: "Exit," K-OS